NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive struggles and defensive tenacity, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Wagner Seahawks for a 56-46 victory in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Spiro Sports Center.

The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 249, was a grind for three quarters before the visiting Knights found their rhythm. Fairleigh Dickinson improved to 14-4 overall and in conference play, while Wagner fell to 6-10.

For much of the evening, neither team could establish consistent offense. The first half was a particular exercise in frustration, with the teams combining for 34 points. Fairleigh Dickinson led 17-16 at halftime, a score more indicative of a single quarter than an entire half. The Knights managed just nine points in the opening period and eight in the second.

Wagner, led by the interior presence of Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor and the scoring of Priscila Varela, found slightly more traction after the break. The Seahawks outscored Fairleigh Dickinson 15-13 in the third quarter to take a 31-30 lead into the final frame, their first advantage since the opening minutes. Modesayor, a 6-foot-3 forward from Nigeria, finished with 14 points, while Varela of Angola added 13 points and a block. Irene Fernandez de Caleya of Spain chipped in 10 points and two assists for Wagner.

The game’s decisive shift came in the fourth quarter. Trailing by a point, Fairleigh Dickinson’s offense, stagnant for long stretches, suddenly ignited. The Knights exploded for 26 points in the final period, nearly matching their total from the first three quarters combined. The catalyst was guard Ava Renninger, who played all but one minute of the game. The sophomore from Yardley, Pennsylvania, scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. She was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final frame as part of her overall effort.

Renninger’s backcourt partner, Kailee McDonald, provided crucial stability, logging 40 minutes and contributing nine points and three assists. Madlena Gerke, a guard from Latvia, provided a key spark off the bench with 11 points, including a critical three-pointer in the fourth quarter that helped stretch the Knights’ lead.

The most important sequence of the game occurred with just over three minutes remaining and Fairleigh Dickinson holding a narrow 41-38 lead. After a Wagner turnover, the Knights worked the ball to Gerke, who drained a three-pointer to push the advantage to six. On the ensuing Wagner possession, the Seahawks missed a layup, and Renninger secured the defensive rebound. The Knights then effectively managed the clock and converted their free throws down the stretch, going 8-for-8 from the line in the final 49 seconds to seal the victory.

Wagner, which had battled to stay in front, was undone by 27 turnovers and an inability to contain Renninger in the closing minutes. The Seahawks shot just 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Knights tightened their defense.

The win keeps Fairleigh Dickinson near the top of the NEC standings as they continue a promising season. The Knights have now won five of their last six games. Wagner, meanwhile, has lost three straight conference contests.

Fairleigh Dickinson will look to continue its momentum on the road against Long Island on Saturday. Wagner will try to snap its skid at home against New Haven, also on Saturday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Fairleigh Dickinson entered the game with a 94.10 percent probability to win. While the Knights ultimately validated that projection, the path to victory was far more arduous than anticipated, requiring a late-game explosion to overcome a determined Wagner squad on its home floor.